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Nesting ecology does not explain slow–fast cognitive differences among honeybee species

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Abstract

Slow–fast behavioral and life history differences have been tied to slow–fast variation in cognition that is part of the general speed-accuracy tradeoff. While there is growing evidence for such cognitive variation and its association with behavior and life history at the intraspecific level, it is unknown if a similar relationship extends to the interspecific level. Since interspecific differences in cognition have been shown to be a function of ecology and life history, such differences should be reflected in multiple traits that comprise the slow–fast cognitive axis. In this study, by measuring multiple cognitive traits in individuals, we tested for differences in the cognitive phenotype among four honeybee species, which differ in their behavior and life history in a manner that is associated with differences in their nesting ecology. Our results indicate that a set of cognitive traits consistently covary within each species, resulting in slow and fast cognitive phenotypes that largely meet the predictions of the speed-accuracy tradeoff. We also find that the four species group into two distinct clusters on a slow–fast cognitive axis, although their positions do not align with the known differences in their life history and nesting ecology. We instead find that cognitive differences among the four species are correlated with their brain size. We discuss the possible implications of these results for the role of ecology on slow–fast cognitive differences and the evolution of cognition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Vishwas Gowda and Wulfila Gronenberg for generously allowing us to re-analyze their brain volume data on the different species of honeybees and Stephen Mugel for discussions.

Funding

This study was supported by funding from awards to CT from the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University and the Indo-USA. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative Grant awarded to Barry Noon and awards to DN from the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research and the National Science Foundation, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Catherine Tait & Dhruba Naug

  2. National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India

    Axel Brockmann

Authors
  1. Catherine Tait
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  2. Axel Brockmann
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  3. Dhruba Naug
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Contributions

DN and CT designed the study and wrote the manuscript, CT collected and analyzed the data and AB provided funding, logistical and infrastructure support for the research conducted in Bangalore, India.

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Correspondence to Catherine Tait.

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All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Tait, C., Brockmann, A. & Naug, D. Nesting ecology does not explain slow–fast cognitive differences among honeybee species. Anim Cogn 24, 1227–1235 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01515-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01515-2

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